Copy and paste this worksheet as a separate page linked to the Homepage of your portfolio. DO NOT type your answers on THIS document because it needs to be used by other students. The title of your page which replies to these questions is linked to your portfolio and should begin with the first initials of your first and last name. (In my case, the link to this worksheet from my portfolio page would read frrezsisters.)
You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them on time (no later than Sunday, February 11 on or before 12:01am). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0. You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play takes place on an Native American Reservation. It takes place during the summer of 1986. The setting of the play eventually changes to Toronto for a short time and then back to the Reservation again. The characters are a group of Native American women: Annie, Marie-Adele, Emily, Pelajla, Philomena, and Veronique’s. 2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is all the women finding out that there will be a Big Bingo in Toronto. From there the women get into an almost violent argument, suddenly become a team, and then raise enough money to go to the big bingo. 3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor or why this play starts here is that this is they day all the women hear about the big bingo game in Toronto. Each woman talks and imagines all they could do if they won the prize money and the play is propelled from there. 4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
The dramatic question is whether any of the women will win the bingo. Or furthermore, will any of the women get what they want. The only one who actual won anything was Philomena and she only won 600 dollars. However, she was able to get the new toilet she wanted. 5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
One is the dirt roads. It illustrates the state of poverty the reservation is in. Pelajla often complains about the dirt roads and how she wishes they mayor would build regular roads.
Another is the houses, they are falling apart and Pelajla herself has to hammer them together. It is another way of showing their poverty, but it also shows that there are no men around doing the work. This is work the women are doing themselves. 6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
One theatrical moment was at the very beginning of the play with Pelajla and Philomena talking on the roof. Here we learn Pelajla's and Philomena's wants. Pelajla wants to leave the reservation while Philomena just wants a new toilet. There is another theatrical moment as well where we learn all the other women's' wants, however, I think Pelajla telling hers is the most important. She wants off the reservation, and I think that is essentially what all the women want. The money they raised for the bingo trip could have been used to buy whatever they wanted. But instead, they use it to get out of the reservation. 7. List some of the themes of the play.
There are strong themes of feminism. Most of the men are sent off the reserve to make a living while the women have to stay. It explains why so many women were ready to get off the reserve for a change.
Another theme could be identity. Zhaboonigan was raped and Marie-Adele's ability to have children versus Veronique’s inability to have them. Emily had an abusive husband that she mentioned, in the end, made her stronger. 8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
The chief character, Pelajla, at first, wants to get off the reserve. She and many other women talk of going to Toronto. Her main obstacle is that she doesn't have the money to move. Another obstacle could be that she doesn't want to leave her sister who is comfortable staying on the reserve. 9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
Nanabush is a sort of religious image in the play. Its title helps us understand that this is the native american's women way of interpreting spirits or deity.
Bingo Game is another image in the play. Winning the game is a goal that all the women are aiming for. It also brings them all together as they work toward that common goal, showing us, firsthand, their sisterhood.
Hammer is a sort of feminism image. Almost like Rosie the Riveter. They, the women, are the people who are fixing and putting things back together. Doing jobs the men usually do. 10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
There are strong sisterhood relationships, as expressed in the title of the play, Rez Sisters. At first it is hard to understand why these women even talked to each other. They seemed like they hated each other at times and often said sly things about each other. Then there was the scene in the store where they all began yelling and almost fighting each other. Though, that is exactly how sisters are. They fight and scream at each other, but always stay together in the end. Emily had the chance to stay away from the reserve for good, but she still came back.
You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them on time (no later than Sunday, February 11 on or before 12:01am). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0.
You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play takes place on an Native American Reservation. It takes place during the summer of 1986. The setting of the play eventually changes to Toronto for a short time and then back to the Reservation again. The characters are a group of Native American women: Annie, Marie-Adele, Emily, Pelajla, Philomena, and Veronique’s.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion is all the women finding out that there will be a Big Bingo in Toronto. From there the women get into an almost violent argument, suddenly become a team, and then raise enough money to go to the big bingo.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor or why this play starts here is that this is they day all the women hear about the big bingo game in Toronto. Each woman talks and imagines all they could do if they won the prize money and the play is propelled from there.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
The dramatic question is whether any of the women will win the bingo. Or furthermore, will any of the women get what they want. The only one who actual won anything was Philomena and she only won 600 dollars. However, she was able to get the new toilet she wanted.
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
One is the dirt roads. It illustrates the state of poverty the reservation is in. Pelajla often complains about the dirt roads and how she wishes they mayor would build regular roads.
Another is the houses, they are falling apart and Pelajla herself has to hammer them together. It is another way of showing their poverty, but it also shows that there are no men around doing the work. This is work the women are doing themselves.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
One theatrical moment was at the very beginning of the play with Pelajla and Philomena talking on the roof. Here we learn Pelajla's and Philomena's wants. Pelajla wants to leave the reservation while Philomena just wants a new toilet. There is another theatrical moment as well where we learn all the other women's' wants, however, I think Pelajla telling hers is the most important. She wants off the reservation, and I think that is essentially what all the women want. The money they raised for the bingo trip could have been used to buy whatever they wanted. But instead, they use it to get out of the reservation.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
There are strong themes of feminism. Most of the men are sent off the reserve to make a living while the women have to stay. It explains why so many women were ready to get off the reserve for a change.
Another theme could be identity. Zhaboonigan was raped and Marie-Adele's ability to have children versus Veronique’s inability to have them. Emily had an abusive husband that she mentioned, in the end, made her stronger.
8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of her getting what she wants?
The chief character, Pelajla, at first, wants to get off the reserve. She and many other women talk of going to Toronto. Her main obstacle is that she doesn't have the money to move. Another obstacle could be that she doesn't want to leave her sister who is comfortable staying on the reserve.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
Nanabush is a sort of religious image in the play. Its title helps us understand that this is the native american's women way of interpreting spirits or deity.
Bingo Game is another image in the play. Winning the game is a goal that all the women are aiming for. It also brings them all together as they work toward that common goal, showing us, firsthand, their sisterhood.
Hammer is a sort of feminism image. Almost like Rosie the Riveter. They, the women, are the people who are fixing and putting things back together. Doing jobs the men usually do.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
There are strong sisterhood relationships, as expressed in the title of the play, Rez Sisters. At first it is hard to understand why these women even talked to each other. They seemed like they hated each other at times and often said sly things about each other. Then there was the scene in the store where they all began yelling and almost fighting each other. Though, that is exactly how sisters are. They fight and scream at each other, but always stay together in the end. Emily had the chance to stay away from the reserve for good, but she still came back.